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ABOUT MY BOOK

BASIC QUERY:

It’s the year 2089, and seventeen-year-old Nova works on her family’s traveling circus—a circus like no other. The W Express features captured Wickeds—demonic humanoids created by an Earth-altering solar flare. The Wickeds function as imprisoned performers in the circus, showcasing their bulletproof skin or their spiderlike climbing.

When new Wickeds are captured in the wild, the W Express gains never-before-seen abilities and the promise of a revitalized show. But with unwavering defiance and the ability to speak, these Wickeds seem more human than demon. So when one of the new additions—an empathetic, gravity-defying Wicked—saves her life, Nova fears the worst. That maybe the “humanoids” are simply human. And that just maybe, she is the villain of her own story.

Hoping to redeem herself, Nova befriends the Wickeds. But when her family announces their plan to sell the circus to a cruel ringmaster, Nova realizes her sympathy will never be enough. It’s time to go to war, but only if Nova is willing to take down her family and everything they’ve built.

STATS:

Title: THE WICKED ONES

Word Count: 65,000 words

Genre: YA speculative fiction

POV: First person, present

HOW I CAME UP WITH THE BASIC PREMISE:

I presented a writing course at the library a year or so ago, and while prepping, I picked out a couple of picture prompts. One of those pictures was this one:

This sparked a question in my mind…What would it be like to grow up on a traveling circus?

WHY I WROTE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A VILLAIN:

Most of the books I read are from the perspective of the underdog or the fearless girl who is (usually to a fault) selfless. And don’t get me wrong, I LOVE these types of books. I love watching inherently good characters go through some tough situations, becoming even better people by the end.

HOWEVER…

I wanted to explore the other side. Take a girl who has been raised in a prejudiced family, whose main way of surviving the world is by fearing anything and anyone different. In the words of the wonderful Dumbledore, “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”

I wanted someone who did not only have to stand up to enemies, but who also had to stand up against her friends and family. To do what’s right, even with the world against her.

WHY I LOVE THIS BOOK:

I absolutely love this book–and I want to do it justice. Nova is the most complex, morally gray character I’ve ever written. While she is praised for being good in her society, she must decide whether that makes her a good person in the grand scheme of the world. Everyone has complicated emotions and motives in this story, and they all weave together to make an exciting story.

WHY YOU SHOULD MENTOR ME:

I’m twenty-two years old, and I’ve written ten novels, won awards for multiple short stories, and gained an online following of over 120,000 followers. I am devoted to writing and take it very seriously. I’m hoping to have a long career as an author, and I am a dedicated learner. So long as you believe in my book and the heart of my story, I am excited to take criticism and advice. I will always take your suggestions seriously, and I hope, together, we can work to find the best solution for my story.

I’ve been through multiple edits with THE WICKED ONES, and I’ve worked with beta readers and critique partners. I feel that I’ve done all that I can with this book, and I need your help bringing it the rest of the way. This story deserves to be told, and I promise to do whatever it takes to make that possible. Kill my darlings, change verb tense, make substantial edits if needed! (Heck, I’d rewrite the whole book if it would make the story better).

SOME THINGS I NEED HELP WITH:

Sensitivity: I realize this is a very sensitive topic and viewpoint. I am always open to hearing ideas on how to better approach my characters and their world.

Word Count: My word count is a little on the low end. I’ve edited my book down to the essential, but I’d love to hear ideas on how to plump up the word count.

World Building: I *hope* I’ve painted a vivid picture of Nova’s world, but I always love advice on how to make this stronger.

ABOUT ME:

I am a twenty-two-year-old librarian from beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. In high school, I was a swimmer and a competitive cheerleader. I suffer from severe anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder. I wrote my first book at sixteen, and I haven’t stopped writing since! To learn more about my writing creds, see below! 🙂

MY WRITING CREDENTIALS:

Two published novels (self-published 2016, Hachette 2017)

Wattpad Star with over 120,000 followers

Over 4,600,000 read on a YA contemporary

Winner of Nicholas Sparks “Best of Me” Movie Contest

A top contender in “The DUFF” Movie Contest and the TNT Horror Story Contest

English and creative writing major

Currently a children’s librarian

Previous intern at two literary agencies and one local publishing house